By KAITLIN GEBBY
Gov. Bill Lee paid a visit to Bradley County to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Partnerships in Industry and Education (PIE) Industry Center Tuesday.
The school district is renovating the former American Uniform factory on Parker Street to provide a base for the private sector and nonprofit partners, who will sign lease agreements, to come in the space and build classrooms and training areas for their industry. Five years in the making and scheduled to be completed next summer, the PIE Innovation Center will be a new education facility in Bradley County Schools for career and technical training.
The school is designed to set students on the path for trade skill jobs and vocational careers.
During Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony, Lee said he has personal experience in trade skills, noting that he’s a certified master plumber. He said the PIE Industry Center will become “the model” for high school career and technical education across the state.
“This will be a model for the state,” Lee said. “We need to have pathways to success for every kid, regardless of the type of giftings and the type of skills that they have.”
In addition to the governor, present for the groundbreaking were school board members and district administrators, county commissioners, County Mayor D. Gary Davis, as well as state Sens. Todd Gardenhire and Mike Bell, and state Reps. Dan Howell and Mark Hall. At each turn speaking, the local and legislative officials mentioned the example the PIE Center will set for similar institutions across the state upon its completion.
Hall, a former Bradley County commissioner, said he served on the county commission when the wheels for the PIE Center started turning.
“I would hate to think what my life would be today if it wasn't for technical or vocational school,” Hall said. "I've been a licensed barber since 1989. It changed the lives of my children and my children's children. It's things like this that renews our hope and our enthusiasm. It lets us know that education is not one-size-fits-all. And that everybody has a place, and everybody can be successful.”
Lee also praised Bradley County Schools for its partnerships to make the PIE Center possible, stating that it, too, set an example for the rest of the state to work together to uplift the next generation.
Mayor Davis invited Lee back to the ribbon-cutting ceremony planned around this time next year.
“Make sure you put it on your calendar. Summer of ‘21, we'll be back for the grand opening,” he said.
The Link LonkAugust 05, 2020 at 12:59AM
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Gov. Lee says PIE Center is 'model for the state' - Cleveland Daily Banner
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